Credit: www.ci.troutdale.or.us
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  • www.ci.troutdale.or.us
  • Mr. Kight

In response to our Halloween issue’s take on Troutdale (see: The Troutdale Trout), we received an email from the mayor of Troutdale this morning. Writes Mayor Jim Kight : “Creative parody on Troutdale, however…If you are interested is hearing ‘the rest of the story’ please give me a call.”

SO OF COURSE WE DID.

“I got a few calls after your issue came out, asking me to stand up for Troutdale,” says Kight. “But I told them ‘Lighten up! We gotta laugh at ourselves!'”

Kight clearly took the parody in good humor, but took the opportunity to highlight some of Troutdale’s recent successes. Looks like the town has been met with good fortune, especially during tight economic times. “Troutdale has probably the most public projects in any Portland metro area,” he says. “And the news just gets better!”

There was a common theme in our interview: Troutdale is the leader in the state in a plethora of categories. Here are just a few:

– Troutdale has the only high school in Oregon that caters to five different cities
– The town’s 1-84 bridge reconstruction is the largest of its kind in the state
– Troutdale has the largest brownfield clean-up site in Oregon (“And it cost — are you sitting down?” says Kight. “213 million dollars to clean up!”)
– Probably one of the few in the state who are actually building new homes and a police station and supporting new start-up buisnesses
– “Have you seen our arch? I’m sure your readers will be interested in this,” he says. Apparently the entry arch is one of the state’s best. Exhibit A:

Behold

Kight concluded by offering me a private tour of the city. Well played, Troutdale!

Alex Zielinski is a former News Editor for the Portland Mercury. She's here to tell stories about economic inequities, cops, civil rights, and weird city politics that you should probably be paying attention...

20 replies on “Troutdale Fights Back!”

  4. “Private” tour, eh? Why do I get the feeling that’s going to end with a certain young mayor having his gray slacks at his ankles, standing there in his undershorts going, “What?”

    Make sure you check out Taste of Village for some Thai food. I’ve never eaten there, but oh that name.

  7. >> “largest brownfield clean-up site in Oregon (“And it cost — are you sitting down?” says Kight. “213 million dollars to clean up!”‘

    i wonder what company got that $213 MILLION contract…i wonder why the company that created the toxic waste field (aka ‘brownfield’) isn’t paying? i wonder why…

  9. Other fact about Troutdale: after the swearing-in ceremony, each new mayor of Troutdale is required to have both the Arch and “Gateway to the Gorge” tattooed on their lower back.

    @ C&B, well played

  10. @rich bachelor. Are you implying that Mr. Kight is going to try and FUCK our dear Ms. Zielinski? Or are you merely suggesting that Troutdale, fiscally, tighten their belt?

  13. Does the Mayor Kight get his hair cut/styled in Troutdale? Cause if so, my hair cuttin’ budget will be transferred to his fiefdom.

  19. Our beloved mayor forgot to mention that the arch came in just slightly over budget. Original budget in the $70.000 range and final numbers, in excess of $250000.

    Interesting too that he did not mention the fight he has ongoing with his own council and the illegal building he has on his property.

    Troutdale is real, and IS a nice place to live, just needs new staff that can actually build a budget that is real, and a mayor that follows the rules he expects others to follow.

    Doug

  20. Portland used to have a series of awesome lit-up arches in what is now called Old Town, but we got rid of them.

    Cat & beard wins at commenting.

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